Fluid-pressure circuit-closer



T. E. BRAZEAL.

Hum PRESSURE cmcul-T CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27. 1916.

. 1,338,896a T Patented May 4, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

INVENTOH ifimmrflfiiwvea/ wrTNEssEs i a l! u ATTORNEY T. E BRAZEAL. FLUID'PBESSURE cmcun CLOSELR.

' APFL ICAIION FILED NOV ZT, 1916.

Pamnted May 4, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTOR N EY invention relates, more particularly,

stains r... oics.

THQZMAS E. BT14. ill" BEAI'I'LAIGD, "WEST? VXRGINIA.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented May 4, loan.

- Application filed November 27, 1916. Serial No. 133,767.

To all whom it may concern 1 Be it known that l, 'lnorms it. BRAZEAL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Maitland, in the county of McDowell and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid- Pressure Circuit-Closers, of which the following is a specification. The present invention has reference, generally, to improvements signals; and, the to :1. safety mine signal.

The invention has for its principal ohiect to provide av signal for use in mines and other similar places Where forced ventilation systems are neessary anal is adapted should the air forcing apparatus of the ventilator system become broken, or exceed the required velocity, to alarm the miners or workmen, thus, allowing them to escape to the open before casnaities result, either from the condition of the air or from the accumulation of gases; the latter frequently causing explosions of'serious nature.

As an. object of equal importance the invention jaimsto roviole a novel automatic electric circuit 0 osing" closed when the air forcin apparatus of ceeds the required speed consequently producing an excessive pressure, thus, complet ing a circuit through various Warningsig male, and allowing the workmen ample time to leave the locality in safety.

It is a further object of the present in-. vent on to prov de an automatic circuit closing means which will. operate a plurality of signals, certain of which indicate slight or minor disabilities of the air forcing apparatus and others to indicate material or dangerous disabilities oi the said apparatus or conditions arising therefroin.

Among other aims and objects of theinvention may he recited the provision of an automatic circuit closing means with a View to compactness, and in which the number of parts are fev'v,-the construction simple, the cost of production, installation and maintenance small, and efficiency and operation high.

, The improvements in the details and arrangements of parts Willbe apparent from inspection of the accompanying drawings, in connection with. the specific description hereinaftercontained, and wherein the scene that will. he

the ventilating system is disabled or ex preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed for the purpose of imparting o. full understanding of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is r. combinedvertical section of the automatic circuit closing means and seini-diagramniatic View oftlie several signaling circuits,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2 --2 of Fig. 1,

. l in perspective of one of the fixed contact terminals.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the, several views, reference wil be first had to the im proved automatic circnili closing means, which means includes a housing 1, the same having openings 2 and 3 arranged in the top and bottom thereof. Other openings it and 1' are arranged side Walls of the housing. A plurality-of pairs of contact terminals are arranged within hoirsing l and are designated generally at 5. will be noted, that the several pairs ofcontact terminals are arranged in verticsli alined position, that is, one alcove the ct ier. The contact terminals 5 comprise arms that are bent zit substantially right to the body portions, aset 6. The terminals are provided with the longitudinal elo n ated slots 7, that the may he slidah y received within cpinplementai formed in the fixed insnletlng supporting; blocks 8, the terminal arms are held in proper position by meansofthe set Sthat are brou ht into engagement with the saidblocks. said screws are passed through the elongated slots"? of the angular portions 6 of the contactterminals. The body portions of the contact terminals are arranged in oppositely disposed relation in order that the same may he adjusted to or from each other, they are provided. with screw threaded shanks 10. These shanks are passed through the openings 11 formed the body portions thereof and are adapted to have the locking nuts 12- upon the screw threaded shanks 10. This will. permit the desired adjustment of said contact terminals.

In order to provide movable contact elements whereby the fixed contact terminals 5 may be engaged and a circuit completed, a

bracket comprising a plurality of vertically disposed spaced apart strips of insulat on 13 are al'fixed to one wall of the housing 1 by mea'fils of bolts 14:. These bolts are passed. through suitable spacing blocks 15 that are placed between the strips 13 and are then embedded in the wall of the housing Obviously, by so arranging'the strips of insulation 13, aw'ertical guide way 1s ailforded. In this guide wa 7 there is slidably disposed a vertical rot 16, the upper extremity of which is screw threaded, as at 17. This rodpasses through the opening 3 formed in the top of the housing, and, nuts 18 are turned into proximity to the lower portion of the screw threads 17. The hearing brackets 19 are then arranged thereover and secured to the adjacent wall of the housing 1 by suitable fastening devices 20. Previous to the securing of, the upper bearing bracket 19 in a fixed position, an expansible coiled spring is arranged about the lower part of the screw threads 17 of the rod 16. The lower end of the spring rests upon the uppermost nut 18, while the upper end bears against the lower face of the-bracket bearing 19. \Vhen the bracket is secured to the housing 1, a second expansihle coiled spring 22 is arranged over the upper screw threaded part of the rod 16 and has its upper end bearingagainst the lowermost of nuts 23. By this means, it will. be appreciated, that an efficient equalizing means is afforded, since, by adjusting either the nuts 18 or 23, the tension upon the springs 21' and 22 may be varied, consequently, enabling the rod 16 to more freely move in a predetermined direction. Laterally extended squared arms .2 1 and 24:" formed or porcelain or other similar insulating material are arranged upon the rod 16, which element is received through suitable openings arranged adjhcent one end of each of the arms 24 and 24'. Set screws or the like 25 are then turned into engagement with the said arms and bear upon the rod 16, thus, retaining the arms in a fixed position. The outer ends of the arms 24 and 24 are disposed between the contact terminal 5 and have vertical. bores herein intowhich are inserted the bushings or beai ing sleeves 26. Each sleeve is adapted to slidably receive a double headed'contact pin 27. To retain the contact. pins within the respective sleeves of the arms 24 and 24, the coiled springs 28 are placed on the projecting portions of the face. These springs have their inner ends hearing' upon the opposite sides oi the said arms,

while their remaining ends are in en agement with the under faces of the hea s of the pins. Thus, it is evident that when the pin is engaged with either of the contact terminals, between which it ism-ranged, it will by reas'onof its yieldable mounting afford a positive connection. Upon slid 1g movement of the rod 16, the arms 21 and. 2% with their respective contact pins 27 will be moved therewith. -Lateral or rotary movement of the arms will be prevented by the mounting of the same inthe guide way formed by the spaced apart vertical strips 13 A pressure cylinder 29 is arran ed upon the bottom of the housing 1 an' is provided in its bottom with a neck 3 0, which neck is received by the opening2 in the bottom of the housing and is engaged by ascrew threaded connection 31 of the air forcing apparatus supply pipe 32. Semicircular brackets 33 are passed about the peripheral surface of the pressure cylinder 29 and have the feet thereof secured to one wall of the housing, as at 3%, thus, rendering the cylinder immovable and preventing disalinement of the same with the rod 16. A floating piston 35 is loosely ar-,

ranged within the pressurecylinder 29 and carries a depending guide rod 36 adapted to be received in a portion of the supply pipe 32, and a piston rod 37, which rod, is connected to thelower end of the slidable rod 16 by means of a suitable coupling 38. Exhaust ports 39 are arranged within the upper or exhaust end of the pressure cylinder 29 and as will be obvious, permit the exhaustion of fluid therefrom and consequently the moving of the piston Since the pipe 32 is connected with the air forcing apparatus of the ventilating system. which usually comprises a blower of suitable construction, it is evident, that a por tion of the air current will be shunted there through into the cylinder 29, thus, supporting the piston 35 in a'predetermined position, whereby, the contact pins 27 as carried upon the arms 24- and 24 will be main tained in spaced relation from their respective contact terminals 5. However, should the pressure within the cylinder 29 decrease, due to disabling of the blower or fracture or clogging of the air conveying apparatus of the ventilating system, the piston 35 will. be permitted to lower and thereby, bring the lower portions "of the contact pins 27 into engagement with the lower contact terminals 5, whereupon, signaling circuits, which will be subsequently described, will be closed, and the minors or other workmen warned in order that they may escape to the open. Should for any reason the speed or velocity of the blower exceed the required point and the air pres sure be increased, the piston will beraised 'within the pressure cylinder and consequently, the upper portions of the contact pins Xi-Will be'engaged with their respective contact terminals, again closing'the signalcircuits and warning the workmen.

eferring new to the signaling means,-

an electric circuit comprising conductors 4:0 and i0 is connected to the opposite pole of a. storage battery ill or other source of n continuous current, whereupon, the free end 0% the conductor 40 is passed through one oat-the openings 4 in one side wall of the housing and connected to the terminal of the supporting block 8, as at 42, while the free end of the conductor 4:0 is passed through one of the openings i in the remaining side wall of the housing 1 and secured to'a supporting block. 43. From this block the conductor 47" is connected with the contact pin 27, as at 44. A bell 45 is or?- current so the ventilation engineer will be notified of slight or minor disabilities as may be existing in the ventilating system, in order that the proper repairs may be immediately nude. A second or danger indicating cirsuit is provided and comprises conductors 4+7 and 47, certain of the ends or which are engaged. with the supplyv of current from the storage battery. 41 while the remaining ends thereof are passed through a second opening 4 in one side wall of the housing 1 45 circuit closing trip 49.

and engaged with the terminal of the second supporting block 8, as at 48 and through the second opening t" in the other side of the housing 1 and engaged with a pivotal A branch conductor a? is connected. to a second pivotal circuit closing trip 50, arranged in proximity of and adapted to be engaged by the trip 4-9 and is then extended into engagement with the terminal or binding post of a sup 'iorting block 51 from whence it is extended into engagement with the second contact pin 2? carried by the arm 24, as at 52. By this arrangement, when the said second contact pin 27 is engaged with either of its respective contact terminals 5 and the pivotal circuit closing trips 49 and 50 are engaged, a circuit will be completed, whereby, a plurality of danger indicating lamps 53 and a hell or other audible signal will be operated, thereby, warning the workmen and allowing them sufficient time to gain places otsafety To operate the circuit closing trips 49 and clockho having a. single rotatable hand which hand carries a tripping linger 57, whereby, the upper portion or heel of the trip -29 will be forced down *urdly when engaged thereby and the remaining end thereof engaged with the trip 50. Means are arranged upon the pivotal support of the pin 50 to limit movement thereof and thus, permit adjusting of the same to various positions whereat it may be engaged by the trip Various means may be employed for starting the clock when abnormal conditions are present in the ven- The upper and lower pairs of contact,

terminals 0 are so adjusted as to permit the engaging of the contact pin 27 as arranged between the upper contact terminals with the same prior to the engagement of the rema ning pin 27 with its respective contact terminals. Thus, upon slight fluctuation of air pressure in the cylinder 29, caused by minor disabilities as occurring in the ventilating system, the circuit including the conductors 4.0 and 4:0 will be closed by contact of the pin 27 with the upper pair oi contact terminals and the bell e5 operated, thereby, notifying the attendantf However, should thepressurc in the cylinder 29 mate rially fluctuate, the contact pin as carried upon the arm 24. will be engaged with one of the lower pairs of contact terminals 5 and the danger signaling circuit, including the conductors 47, 47 and 47/ Wlil be closed by means of the clock 55 and the 50, there is provided an electrically peratcd signals 53 and opdrated, thus, warning the workmen and to escape in safety. S iould it be desired to. change the pressure upon the slidable rod 16, by varying the tension of the springs 21 and 22, so that the same will move more freely in a certain direction, the bearing nuts 18 and 23 as associated with. the said spring will be adjusted to the desired extent. lly so doing, the piston35 as arranged within the pressure cylinder29 may be adjusted so as to accommodate systems of high or low pressure.

To insure insulation'of the various parts of the automatic circuit closing means from the housing 1, an insulating supporting slab 58 may be arranged upon the particular walls upon which the said means is suppcrmit-ting them ported, the same being secured thereto 37' rivets the like designated by the nanneial 59, which, are engaged With the said wall 0 i the housing.

. lVhile' I: have herein illustrated and described with a considerable degree ot' particularity constructional details oi? the device en'ihodying my invention 1 do not Wish to be understood as coi'ilinii'ig the same to this particular embodiment nor to the exact construction, arrangement and adaptation of the pa ts shown and described, but I reserve the right to make any changes and alterations that fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. I claim: 1

1. A circuit closer comprising in combina tion With an air cylinder having an air inlet, a piston operable in the cylinder, rod secured to the piston and exteznling througl the end of the cylinder,,an arm secured. to the rod, a vertically slidablc pin. extending throug'l'i the end of the arm, a block secured adjacent the rod, eaidhlock having Vertically ext-ending passageways therein, spaced adjustable contacts carried by the block and adapted to be engaged by the pin {or c osing a circuit, said contacts having right angle extensions received in the passage Ways, means for holding the right angle extensions in adjusted pos tion in the lMlE" eagewa 's, threaded rods secured to the lilocli's and adapted to extend through the vOEEtHCtS, and in ians carried by the threaded rods for adjusting the contacts.

A circuit closer coni 'irising in combina- 'tion with an air cylinder having an air inlet, a piston operable in the cylinder, a rod secured to the piston and extending through the end oi" the cylinder, an arm secured to the rod, a slidable pin extending through justing the contacts.

in testinion whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THtMIAS E. BRAZ *AL.

iVitncsses H. R. H.

Sixteen, CARRINGTON. 

